Home Staging Check List: Entrance

The Entrance is the introduction to the rest of the space.  How your entrance is decorated (or not) sets the tone for what potential buyers will expect on their walk through.  Here is your opportunity to start off well, with a nice, clean introduction.  Home Staging helps sell.  Don't skimp on the details. 

BEFORE:  messy, and no clear way for a buyer to walk through the space.

AFTER: clearly defined entrance, practical use of console, and added a bistro table to showcase the best way to maximize the space

Here is a checklist you can use to work through your entrance:

1)  Tidy.  Not just TIDY, but remove anything extraneous.  Boxes and clutter piled in the entrance suggest that there may not be enough storage.  There actually may not be, which is one of the reasons you are moving, right?!  But no need to advertise that!  Same goes for closets, but we'll get to those in another post. 

2)  Brighten.  Entrance's in houses or condos can be lacking light, depending on where the windows are.  Use mirrors to reflect brightness, max out the recommended wattage on bulbs, and turn on all the lights!

3) Shine.  Everything should be clean and dust free.

4) Shoes and Coats Away.  Put away your personal belongings.  

5) Maximize Space.  Can the hallway fit a console?  Yes?  Add a console.  This shows that there is ample room for storage units or whatever else the buyer may have in mind. 

6) Keep It Light.  Light in colour or light in weight.  Don't put chunky peices of furniture in a small space.  It just makes the space look crowded. 

7) Add Freshness.  If you will be around to upkeep flowers, fresh flowers are a nice addition.  However, if you won't be checking on the property, do not use fresh flowers. Cut flowers have a 3-4 day shelf life, and you don't want potential buyers to walk into a wilted bunch of dead flowers. 

8) Style.  Try to create and aspirational (yet attainable) feel.  You are selling your home, yes, but you are also selling a lifestyle.  Take the time to style your home with some art and nice accessories.  We love the accessories collection at West Elm.  If you need help, you can always hire a designer to help you style your home for sale.  

Listing Realtor: Geoffrey Grace